Cultivator



Feb. 7, 1939.

c. l.. HARBoLT y 2,145,981

CULTIVATOR Filed Aug. 6, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 W wx W; gf" d .y llmbdl Y INVENTOR Ai XW ATTORN EYS c. L. HARBOLT Feb. 7, 1939.

CULT'IVATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,g5 wks. i HH n M Nk mw Aw. W., mw n. U m

INVENTOR' ATTORNEYS l oo 9, 5 4

c. L.. HARBOLT Feb. 7, 1939.

CULTIVATOR Filed Aug. 6, 1937 4 lSheets-Sheet 3 wmv ATTORNEYS Feb. 7, c, 1 HARBOLT CULT I VATOR Filed Aug. 6, 195'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @ai ,MQQMVJ/ ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 7, 1939 PATENT CFFICE CULTIVATOR Curtis L. Harbolt, Brantford, ontario, canado, assignor to Cockshutt Plow Company Limited, Brantford, Ontario, Canada Appliootion August s, 1937, serial No. 157,797

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cultivators such as are commonly used for cultivating crops planted in rows.

One of the objects of this invention is to pro- .o vide a cultivator of this kind of improved construction which is easier to operate, and consequently, less tiring upon the operator. It is also an object to provide a cultivator with an improved mechanism for steering the same, which l is so arranged that it is actuated while the operator sits in a natural and convenient position. A further Objectis to provide a foot operated steering mechanism in which the foot treadles used forsteering have an up and down movelo ment. It is also an object of this invention to arrange the foot pedals for steering the cultivator below the gang frames on which the cultivating implements are mounted. Another object yis to so construct the steering mechanism that 20 the foot pedals remain in the same relative positions with regard to the gang frames regardless of the adjustment of the same for deep or shallow cultivation. Another objectis toprovide a steering and ground working implement shifting 25 device which is so constructed that the foot pedals are mounted on the gange frames and move therewith, but are moved by the operator in an yup and down direction to effect steering of the cultivator. 30 Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and claims.

' In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective side view of a cultivator embodying this invention, one of the wheels of the .35 cultivator being omitted for sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a perspective rear view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the cultivator showing a part of the steering mechanism,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation 40 thereof, on line 4-4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the cultivator taken partly in section on line 5-5, Fig. 3. f

The cultivator maybe provided with a main `45 frame of any suitable or desired construction,

that shown including a pair of longitudinally extending frame members I5 which converge toward the front of the cultivator where they are arranged to be connected with any suitable tongue so (not shown). The rear ends of the frame members I5 are secured to a transverse frame member I4, which may be formed of a number of vstructural members or vparts and the end portions of i o which are provided with hub portions or sockets 55 I6 in which the upper ends 4of downwardly extending, substantially vertical pivot members or pins |1 are secured, see Figs. 3 and 5. The upright parts I8 of two. pivoted axles I9 are pivotally mounted to rotate about the upright pivot pins I1. Suitable wheels 20 are journalled on the 5 axles I9, and it will be obvious that by turning the axle members I8 about the upright pivot members Il, the wheels 20 can be adjusted for steering the cultivator. 2| represents a pair of rearwardly extending frame members, the front ends of which are rigidly secured to the rear ends of the frame members I5. The frame members 2| near their rear ends support a seat 22 for an operator and another seat 24 for a driver may be provided on the front portion of the frame. 21 represents a pair of gang frames suitably mounted below the main frame of the cultivator. These gang frames may be of any suitable or desired construction, those shown, see particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 5 being fabricated of strips of 2o steel and having their rear portions diverging rearwardly from the middle portion of the machine, as indicated at 28 to form supports for the cultivator blades or ground working implements 30, which may be of any suitablel or desired form.

The gang frames 21 may be supported from the main frame of the cultivator in any suitable or desired manner, and in the construction i1- lustrated, the front ends of these frames are pivotally secured to the lower ends of the down- 30 wardly extending member or arch 3| of substantially inverted U-shape, the upper end of which is rigidly secured to the frame members I5, and the downwardly extending parts of which may be rigidly hel-d in place by means of brace members 32 and 32a. The lower ends of the U-shaped members are turned outwardly to form substantially horizontally extending pivots 33, on which coupling members 34 may be pivotally mounted. These coupling members have bearings for upright pivots to each of which a clevis 35 may be pivoltally connected. The front end of each gang frame 21 is secured to a clevis 35. By means of this mounting, it will be noted that the gang frames 21 may swing upwardly and downwardly 45 about the outwardlyextending pivot ends 33 of the arch` member 3| and the gang frames may be swung laterally about the upright pivotal connections of the clevises 35 with the coupling mem- 50 bers 34. The outer ends of the pivot ends 33 of the arch member are alsoI preferably braced or linked with the lower ends of the pivotal axles I8, for example, by means of links 36, see particularlyFigs.t 1 and-2. vThe rear ends of the 55 links 36 may be pivotally connected to the lower ends of the axle members I8, so as to permit turning of the axles about their vertical pivots.

'Ihe draft may be applied to the gang frames 21 in any suitable manner, for example, by means of chains 31 connected to the lower ends of upright draft bars 38 connected at their upper ends by means of a cross bar 39 which engages a part 46 secured to the front ends of the frame members I5. The draft may be applied to the upright draft bars 38 in any suitable manner, for

example, by means of single trees 4I pivotedY intermediate of the ends of the draft bars so that a portion of the draft will bek transmittedL to the frame members I5 and another portion to the cultivator gang frames 21. Pulls; on the chains 31 will be transmitted by the links 36 to the pivotal axles I8. Any other means of pivotally mounting the gang frames 21 with reference to the main frame of the cultivator and for applying draft to the` cultivator may be provided, and also any suitable means for adjusting the gang frames 21 to raise and lower them may be employed. In the construction shown for this purpose, a pair of levers 43 are provided, one being provided for each gang frame and arranged to cooperate with toothed segments 44 which are secured to the frame members I 5. 'I'he levers are pivoted at 45 on portions of the segments 44 and their lower ends are connected to links 46, the lower ends of which extend through slots in brackets 48vsecured to the gang frames. Each link 46 has at its lower end a pin 41 adapted to engage with its slotted bracket 48 for raising the gang frame. Each link 46 is also provided with a coil spring 49, the upper end of which is rigidly secured to the link, and the -lower end of which engages the upper face of the bracket 48 to yieldingly urge its gang frame downwardly. When the outer ends of the levers 43 are swung downwardly, the links 46 are raisedl so `that the pins 41 engage the brackets 48 and swing the gang frames 21 upwardly about ther horizontally extending ends 33 of the arch member 3| so that theV ground working implements or cultivator blades 36 are raised out of the ground. When the levers 43 are swung in the opposite direction, the springs 49 exert pressure upon the bracket members 48.- to urge the ground working implements 3D downwardly into the ground. Any other means for adjusting the gang frames in up and down directions may be employed.

Steering mechanism In order to steer the cultivator by turning the wheel axle members I8 about their upright pivots I1, the pivoted axle members I8 are provided withforwardly extending brackets 55 to which arms 56 are secured, the front ends of which are connected to a cross bar or connecting bar 51. Hence it will be obvious that if the connecting bar`51 is moved crosswise of the cultivator, the two pivoted wheel axles I8 will both be turned in the same direction and to the sa-me extent. In order to provide for this movement, I preferably arrange a pair of foot pedals 60 in a position convenient with relation to the operators seat 22 so that the operator in placing his feet into the two foot pedals 60 will be in a convenient and comfortable position. For this purpose, it is desirable that the foot pedals 60 be arranged as low as possible and in order to further facilitate the steering of the cultivator, I alsor provide mechanism connecting the foot pedals wherebyl Ydownward pressure` exertedon one or other of the foot pedals will produce the desired steering. For this purpose, I secure the foot pedals to the rear ends of foot levers 6I, the' `At their front ends, the upwardly bent parts 63 of these strips are spaced apart so as to produce a forked construction. An apertured swivel member 64 is pivoted on and extends across the space between the upwardly bent ends 63 of the foot lever. A link 65 extends through the aperture inthe swivel member and the end of the link is threaded to receive a nutr66. Consequently, when the foot lever 6I is depressed, as clearly shown in Fig'. 3, the swival member 64 engages-the nut 66 and exerts a pull on the rod or link 65.

The front end of each rod 65 is pivotally secured` to the lower arm of a lever 61 pivoted at 68 on a suitable lug or bracket 69 rigidly secured on the gang frame 21, and the upper end of the lever61 may be secured in any suitable or desired manner, to one end of a chain or flexible member 10 which is arranged to pass over guide pulleys 1 I Vsuitably arranged on the main frame members I5. The other end of the chain 1|] is similarly connected with the end Vof the lever 61 on the other side of the cultivator, and consequently, the chain 10; as clearly shown in Fig. 5, forms a connection between the two foot levers 6I and the mechanism connected therewith, so that the depression of Vone foot pedal 6rwill produce a raising of the other foot pedal. The chain 1I]V is connected intermediate of its ends to the transversely extending link 51 which connects with the pivoted axles I9, the connection between the chain and the cross link 51 being effected through a suitable connecting member 12, which is rigidly secured on the connecting bar 51. It will, consequently, be noted that by depressing one or anotherl foot. pedal 60, the cultivator will be steered to the Vright or left by swinging the pivoted axle members I8.

The construction described also has the advantage thatY the foot pedals can be readily adjusted toy a heightsuitable to the convenience of3 the operator byy adjusting the nuts 66 on the links 65. Further adjustment can be made by means of the chain 10 and connecting links 13, each of which is pivotally yconnected at one end to the end of the lever V61, and the other end of which may be shaped to hook into one or another link of its end 'of the chain 10. n

It will `be noted particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, that guide Vrollers 1I are so located and the levers 61 are so pivoted that the ends thereof to'which the links 13 are attached, will during the adjustment of the steering mechanism move approximately in a line between the guide rollers r1I and the pivot members 33. This arrangement has the important result pedals 60 will have approximately the same relative position-sto the gang frames when the gangs are raised or lowered by means of the levers 43. Other connections between the foot levers and the steering mechanism may, of course, be used in'placeof the mechanism which is herein shown by wayfof example. Y

that the foot Lateralr adjustment of cultivator gangs My improved steering mechanism is also arranged to cooperate with suitable spreading vmechanism which serves to swing .the gang frames 21 toward and from each other,y and furthermore, my improved steering mechanism also operates to move the two gang frames together or as a unit toward one or the other side of the lcultivator so that the ground working implements 3d may loe readily adjusted as may berequired because of irregularities in rows of plants.

Consequently, when the steering mechanism is. actuated to steer the cultivator toward one side,

Aupperends at 16 on the connecting bar 51 of the steering mechanism. The lower portions of the levers 15 extend loosely through slots or apertures 11 formed in inwardly extending portions of the brackets 43 which are secured to the gang frames. Means are provided for movingy the levers 15 about their pivots 16 so as to move the gang -irames 21' toward or from eachother. In the construction shown for this purpose, a pair 'ci toggle links 8B is provided, each of which is pivoted at one end at 8l to a lever 15, see particularly Fig. 4, and the other ends are pivoted to a vertically adjustable slide member 82 which may be oi any suitable construction, and which is mounted to slide in an upright guide S3 rigidly secured on the connecting link 51 of the steering mechanism.

The adjustment of the vertically slidable member 32 is eiected by means of a spreader lever 85, one end of which is pivoted at 85 on the part 12 which is secured to the connecting link 51 of the steering mechanism. The part 12 also has a rearwardly extending projection forming a toothed segment 81 with which a dog or ratchet 3e of the spreader lever 85 may engage to hold this lever in the desired position. The spreader lever is connected to the vertically movable slide member 82 by means of a link, Figs. 3 and 4. As' a result of this construction, it will be obvious that by adjusting the spreader lever 35 about its pivot 85, vertical movement will he transmitted through the link 89 to the slide which movement is transmitted to the toggle links Sii. Ii thelever is actuated yto move the slide 82 downwardly, the toggle links Se will swing the levers 15 outwardly away from each v other and because of the sliding connection between these levers and the gang frames 21, the gang frames will be moved about the pivotal connection at the iront ends thereof away from each other. Upward movement of the spreader lever S results in a corresponding movement of the gang frames toward each other, so that the cultivator blades may be adjusted toward and from each other according to the size of the plants in the iield which is being cultivated. It will also be noted, particularly with reference to Fig. 5, that the steering mechanism automatically moves the gang frames toward one or other side of the machine. Ii, for example, the foot pedal at the left of the machine is pressed downwardly, this exerts a rearward pull on the link 65 connected with the foot lever 6|, and this in turn causes the end of the chain 1li at the left hand side of the machine to be moved downwardly, which in turn, through the medium of the connecting member 12, movesy the connecting link 51 of the steering mechanism to the left. This causes a movement of the parts from the full line positions shown in Fig. 5 into the broken line positions, so that the pivoted axles of the cultivator will be swung in a direction to steer the cultivator to the left and also the movement to the left of the connecting link 51 will be transmitted to the upright levers which will also move bodily to the left without changing their relation to each other, and thus move the gang frames 21 to the left. The other end of the chain 1i), which is connected with the right foot pedal Si! will, of course, produce a correspending upward movement of the right foot pedal. Because of the fact that the foot levers 6l are mounted on the gang frames 21, these levers will move with the gang frames in the direction in which the gang frames move so that if the foot lever n is pressed downwardly, it will also receive a movement to the left, as shown in Fig. 5.

The construction described has the advantage that the foot pedals 60 are located sufficiently below the seat 22 so that the operator sitting on the seat with his feet in the foot pedals will be in a natural position. When he exerts force on one or other foot pedal, this force is mainly downwardly, which enables him to exert greater force on the foot pedals with less effort than is the case with cultivators in which the steering is f effected by forward and-rearward movement of the foot pedals. Furthermore, by using foot levers 6I the operator acts on the steering and gang frame shifting mechanism with an increased leverage. It is also of advantage that the foot pedals move laterally with the gang frames and the foot ypedals 60 are so located with reference to the Hoez'ng attachment It is frequently desirable to add a hoeing attachment to a cultivator comprising a pair of hoes, one at each side of the row of plants, and such hoeing attachment is generally arranged on the machine so that the hoes or blades can be moved by the operator upwardly and downwardly into and out of the ground and toward and from the rows of plants independently of the other ground working members of the cultivator and independently of each other.

In the particular construction illustrated, I provide a hoeing attachment having the parts thereof clamped or removably secured to the gang frames 21 at the portions thereof which are nearest to each other. Each part of the hoelng attachment includes suitable clamping means 95,

. which can be removably secured to a gang frame 21, for example, by means of a bolt 94 extending of which an upright bracket 96 is secured to the gang frame. An upright pivot rod 91 is journalled to rotate in this bracket, and a hoe supporting arm |05 is in turn mounted to swing up and down on a pivot carried on the rod 91. Thus a universal joint is provided between the arms |05 of the hoeing attachments and the gang frames.

Any suitable or desired type of hoe or ground working implement may be secured to the hoe supporting arm |05, and in the construction shown by way of example, I have illustrated a hoeing attachment comprising a ground working blade ||5 which is secured to an upwardly extending arm IIB which may be suitably secured in a socket I I 'I in a hoe supporting member I I2 on the rear end of the arm |05, for example, by means of a clamping bolt or set screw vI I8, so that the arm ||6 may be secured in diiferent relations to the hoeing attachment and so that the arm can be removed from the socket II'J and replaced by another hoe member. The hoe supporting member H2 also has secured thereto an upwardly extending arm |20, the upper end of which may be provided with a handle |2| and the arms |20 are so formed that the two handles of the two hoeing attachments extend into any convenient position with reference to the operator sitting in the rear seat 22. In the construction shown, the arms |20 have plates |22 welded or otherwise secured to the lower ends thereof which are bolted to the hoe supporting members 2.

The two parts of the hoeing attachment described can, of course, be moved independently of each other by means of the two handles |2| and can be swung toward and from eachother about the upright pivot members 91 and can also be swung up and down against the action of the counterbalancing springs |02 so as t0 raise and lower the ground working members or hoes into the ground to the desired extent and out of the ground. Y

As shown in Fig. Y5, one part of the hoeing attachment is preferably secured to the gang frame 2l somewhat ahead` or forwardly of the other hoeing attachment on the other gang frame, and when arranged in this manner one of the ground working members or blades ||5 will be in advance of the other blade. This arrangement is desirable so that'the blades |I5 will not strike when moved toward Yeach other and so that an end portion `of one blade may actually be in rear of the corresponding end of the other blade of the hoeing attachment, so that between plants of a row all weeds may be destroyed by bringing the parts of the hoeing attachment into overlapping relation just as the same pass a plant, and then again separating them when approaching a plant.

The hoeing attachment described has the advantage that it is of simple and compact form and the handles are suciently close to and directly connected with the blades I5, so that there will be comparatively little spring in the :arms |20. This enables the operator to use the hoeing attachment with 'greater accuracy and with less danger of damaging plants. VBy arranging the operators seat 22 as low as possible, the arms |20 can be made relatively short and by carrying the ground working blades |I5 rearwardly from the gang frames by the arms |05, the hoes can be more easily actuated as well as with greater accuracy. y

`In the construction shown, the hoe supporting arms |05 are mounted below the gang frames 21 The arrangement of the hoeing mechanism described results in an easy operation of the same for the reason that the mounting of the parts of the hoeing attachment below the gang frames enables the operator to exert such a leverage on the ground working blades I I5, that comparatively little force need be applied to the handles |2| to move the blades into the ground to the desired extent.

The combination of the steering mechanism and hoeing attachment herein described also facilitates the work of the operator in that by pressing downwardly on one of the foot pedals 60 to steer the cultivator toward the side on which that pedal is located, and also to shift the gang frame in the same direction, the foot pedals will also move in the direction of the gang frames, and the hoeing attachment will move in the same direction. Consequently, in steering the cultivator in this manner, the operators legs and arms naturally shift with the gang frames whichin turn assists in the manipulation of the hoeing attachment. This shifting of the gang frames and hoeing attachment is particularly desirable for use in cultivating when the plants are not planted accurately in straight lines. countered which are not far out of alinement with other plants, it is, of course, possible for the operator to merely shift the hoeing attachment without operating the steering mechanism.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a cultivator having a main frame, axles pivoted thereon, Wheels on said axles and a gang frame adjustably mounted relatively to said main frame and carrying ground working implements,

the combination of a foot operated lever pivotedI on said gang frame, and means connecting said foot operated lever and said pivoted axles for swinging said axles in response to movements of said foot operated lever.

2. In a, cultivator, the combination of a main frame, ground wheels, pivoted axles'on which said ground wheels are journalled and which are pivotally connected with said frame, and a gang frame having pivotal connection at its front end with said main frame and carrying ground work-V,

ing implements, the combination of a foot lever pivoted on said gang frame, and connections between said foot lever and said pivoted axles and extending into proximity to said pivotal connection of said gang frame with said main frame, for transmitting motion of said foot lever to said pivoted axle to effect steering of said cultivator.

3. In a cultivator, the combination of a main frame, ground wheels, pivoted axles on which said ground wheels are journalled and which are pivotally connected with said frame, a gang frame having pivotal connection at its front end with said main frame and carrying ground working implements, and means for adjusting said gang frame relatively to said main frame about said pivotal connection, the combination of a foot lever pivotally mounted on said gang frame for approximately vertical movement relatively to said gang frame, and connections between said foot leverfandsaid pivoted axles, which connec- If plants are entions extend into proximity to the pivotal connection of said gang frame to said main frame, whereby up and down movement of said foot lever produces pivotal motion of said pivotal axles.

4. In a cultivator having a main frame, ground 'wheels supporting the main frame, axles on which said ground wheels are journalled and which are pivotally connected with said main frame, and a pair of gang frames having pivotal connections at their front ends with said main frame and adjustable vertically about said pivotal connections, the combination of a foot lever pivotally mounted on each gang frame for movement in a substantially vertical direction, a second lever pivoted on each gang frame adjacent to the pivotal connection thereof with 'said main frame and connected with the foot lever mounted on the same gang frame, and connections between said second levers of both gang frames and extending transversely of said main frame, said connections being also connected with said pivoted axles to effect steering of said cultivator.

5. In a cultivator having a main frame, ground wheels supporting the main frame, axles on Which said ground wheels are journalled and which are pivotally connected with said main frame, and a pair of gang frames having pivotal connections at their front ends with said main frame and adjustable vertically about said pivotal connections, the combination of a foot lever pivotally mounted on each gang frame for movement in a substantially vertical direction, a second lever pivoted on each gang frame adjacent to the pivotal connection thereof with said main frame and connected with the foot lever mounted on the same gang frame, a connection extending from each second lever to said main frame and connected with said pivoted axles for steering said cultivator, said connections between said second levers and said main frame being substantially in a plane including a pivotal connection between said gang frame and said main frame, whereby vertical adjustment of said gang frame about said pivotal connection leaves said foot levers in substantially unchanged relation to the gang frames to which they are connected.

6. In a cultivator having a main frame, ground wheels supporting the main frame, axles on which the ground wheels are journalled and which are pivoted on said frame, a connecting bar connecting the pivoted axles for simultaneously swinging both axles, a pair of gang frames having their front ends pivotally connected with said main frames for up and down and lateral movement of said gang frames relatively to said main frame, and means associated with said connecting bar for imparting lateral movement of said connecting bar to said .gang frames, the combination of a pair of foot levers, one pivotally mounted on each of said gang frames for movement relatively to the frame to which it is connected, and connections between said foot levers and said connecting bar for shifting said connecting bar when said foot levers are moved about their pivots, for effecting steering of said mechanism and for shifting said gang frames laterally.

'7. In a cultivator having a main frame, ground wheels supporting the main frame, axles on which the ground wheels are journalled and which are pivoted on said frame, a connecting bar connecting the pivoted axles for simultaneously swinging both axles, a pair of gang frames having their front ends pivotally connected with said main frames for up and down and lateral movement of said gang frames relatively to said main frame, and means associated with said connecting bar for imparting lateral movement of said connecting bar to said gang frames, the combination of a pair of foot levers, one pivotally mounted on each of said gang frames for up and down movement relatively to the frame to which it is connected, and a connection extending from one of said foot levers to the other foot lever and extending lengthwise of said gang frames into proximity to the pivotal connections of said gang frames with said main frame and extending to said main frame and connected with said connecting bar for moving said connecting bar to effect steering of said cultivator and lateral movement of said gang frames.

8. In a cultivator having a main frame, ground wheels supporting the main frame, axles on which the ground wheels are journalled and which are pivoted on said frame, a connecting bar connecting the pivoted axles for simultaneously swinging both axles, a pair of gang frames having their front ends pivotally connected with said main frames for up and down and lateral movement of said gang frames relatively to said main frame, and means associated with said connecting bar for imparting lateral movement of said connecting bar to said gang frames, the combination of a pair of foot levers, one pivotally mounted on each of said gang frames for up and down movement relatively to the frame to which it is connected, another lever mounted on each gang frame adjacent to the pivotal connection thereof, a link connecting said last mentioned lever with said foot lever, and a flexible member connecting the two last mentioned levers and extending to said main frame, sheaves for guiding a portion of said flexible member to move transversely to said main frame in proximity to said connecting bar, and a connection between said flexible member and said connecting bar for moving said connecting bar transversely of said main frame for steering said cultivator and shifting said gang frames laterally thereof.

9. In a cultivator having a main frame, ground wheels supporting said main frame, axles on which said ground wheels are journalled and which are pivotally mounted on said main frame, gang frames adjustably mounted on said main frame, and means for shifting said gang frames laterally relatively to said main frame, the combination of a foot lever pivotally mounted on each of said gang frames for pivotal movement relatively to said gang frame, movement transmitting means which connect said foot levers with said pivoted axles for steering said cultivator, said movement transmitting means also connecting with said means for shifting said gang frames laterally, and a hoeing device mounted on each gang frame and including hoes for working the ground, and handles for moving said hoes, said hoeing devices and foot levers being movable with said gang frames.

CURTIS L. HARBOLT. 

